* * *

Just three months ago, this incident had unfolded, which was why Seohwa found the latest rumor about Kang Yigeon being in a coma suspicious.

To verify if it was another fake story, Seohwa accessed the internet late at night, deep in a deserted mountain.

From the comments, it was clear there were limits to what he could deduce about Kang Yigeon’s condition.

‘I should just ask directly.’

Seohwa clicked the “Write Post” button.

Title: So, what’s up with Kang Yigeon these days?
Author: KkyuKkyuKkyu

I heard he got hurt, but it’s been quiet since then.
Anyone know what’s going on with Kang Yigeon?

Comments:
– “He’s hospitalized at the center.”
└ “Nah, he’s out and resting at home.”
└└ “No, he’s still in the ICU… He’s in a coma.”
└└ “What? Really?”
└└ “Lol, stop with the nonsense. If Kang Yigeon were still in a coma, the whole world would be in chaos.”
└└└ “Exactly. The Awakening Department is covering it up. I work at the center…”
└└└ “Wait, for real?”
└└└ “Y’all are too gullible. Don’t trust anything without proof.”

Before Seohwa could refresh the page, the post disappeared.

The speed at which it was deleted made Seohwa’s skin crawl.

If they were suppressing information this fast, didn’t it imply the rumor was true?

If it were another ploy to find him, the news would be spread far and wide instead.

“Could it really… be true?”

Seohwa bit his lip.

If Kang Yigeon had been severely injured… If he’d been in a coma for over a month…

If, because of Seohwa’s disbelief and hesitation, Kang Yigeon never woke up… If he never saw him again…

From the start, Seohwa had resolved to disappear, even if it meant never seeing Kang Yigeon again.

But that decision was predicated on Kang Yigeon being alive.

He had always assumed Kang Yigeon was out there somewhere, alive, visible through the media.

They just wouldn’t meet. That was all.

But the thought of Kang Yigeon dying was a completely different matter.

Could it be a trap?

Still, if he ignored it to avoid a trap… and Kang Yigeon really…

The mere thought of never seeing him again felt like being caught in a blizzard in the dead of winter, the cold biting through to his very core.

He couldn’t imagine a world without Kang Yigeon.

“…Alright.”

Seohwa made his decision.

He packed away his laptop and phone into his inventory, pulling out his ego weapon instead.

With a flick of the wand, violet energy began swirling around.

“Kobami, my little Snake, wake up.”

With a soft pop, the wand transformed into a small, white snake.

“Kkyuuu.”

The snake greeted him warmly before suddenly yelping in surprise and burrowing into his sleeve.

Like Seohwa, Kobami hated the cold.

While April might feel like spring to some, it was still early spring for Seohwa and winter for Kobami, who was still in hibernation.

“Sorry for waking you while it’s still cold.”

“Kkyuu.”

The snake peeked its head out of his sleeve and gave an understanding nod.

“Do you remember Kang Yigeon?”

“Kkyuu?”

“You know, the scary, handsome guy from three years ago who adored you.”

“Kkyuuuu.”

“The one with the violet eyes, just like yours.”

“Kkyuu!”

“That’s him.”

Kobami let out a long, wistful cry, glancing around as if expecting to see Kang Yigeon nearby.

“He’s not here right now. But I need your help. Can you go check on him?”

“Kkyuu?”

“Just a quick look. See what condition he’s in and come back.”

Kobami tilted its head but eventually gave a cheerful “Kkyuu kkyuu!” in response.

Seohwa activated the Magician’s Door skill.

Thud!

A white door materialized before him.

The skill allowed him to summon three doors, each connected to a specific location.

The third door led to the Hunter Center’s medical ward, a location he had linked three years ago after being injured.

Though unused for years, it was now proving invaluable.

“Kobami, go invisible.”

“Kkyuu!”

The snake vanished, visible only to Seohwa.

Its transparency would make it undetectable to anyone below A-rank.

“Go inside. I’ll guide you from here.”

“Kkyuu!”

Kobami slithered through the door, and Seohwa shared its vision.

Kobami’s vision appeared as a system window. It was the middle of the night, so no one was around, and the surroundings were pitch dark.

“Get out from there and turn right. …Go up the stairs. Yes, from there, go left…”

I remotely controlled Kobami, guiding it toward the ICU.

Since the ICU operated 24/7, there were a few people passing by.

The clever Kobami skillfully avoided bumping into objects or people as it headed toward the desired destination.

Finally, Seohwa found him.

Kang Yigeon. EX-grade. Admitted February 21.

On the bed lay Kang Yigeon.

The chart hanging by the bed indicated that he had been admitted on February 21 and had undergone gastric lavage due to a drug overdose.

“Do you want to climb onto the bed?”

• Squeak.

Kobami wriggled and worked hard to climb up the tall bed.

• Squeak!

The small snake, seeing Kang Yigeon after so long, jumped in surprise on the spot.

Sharing the snake’s vision, Seohwa was also a bit startled.

Kang Yigeon, who had immediately struck Seohwa as a man who seemed “big” at first glance, now looked frail and emaciated as he lay there with his eyes closed.

An IV line dangled from his wrist, but there was no ventilator.

His lips were so dry they looked like they might crack and bleed at any moment.

His cheeks were sunken, and his complexion was pale.

He looked every bit like a patient who had been in a coma for nearly two months.

• Squeak, squeak, squeak!

Kobami rubbed its skin against Kang Yigeon’s face, seemingly at a loss.

‘I know this person. He’s a good person.’

‘It’s been so long. I’m glad to see you.’

‘I want to say hello, but he looks so sick.’

‘Master, do something.’

“…”

Seohwa couldn’t even offer words of comfort.

Of course, he was worried.

He wanted to run to Kang Yigeon immediately.

He wanted to grill the medical staff about what kind of drug could put an EX-grade Awakener into a coma for over a month.

But the reason Seohwa stood in silent thought was that, even seeing this frail state, the seed of doubt within him wouldn’t disappear.

Why isn’t there a ventilator?

Is he truly sick?

Is this really not an act?

Even after seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.

Was he doomed to doubt Kang Yigeon even after his death, wondering if he had truly died?

Just then, he sensed someone approaching.

It wasn’t just one person—there were four or five.

Since Kobami was in an invisible state, he didn’t bother hiding.

“So, it’s decided that only we’ll go to Spain for now?”

“That’s right. If news spreads that the EX-grade Hunter still hasn’t woken up, it’ll cause chaos.”

“Rumors are already circulating online, though.”

“It’s just rumors for now.”

“Hey, sis, in my experience, rumors rarely just stay rumors. They always leak out eventually. What’ll we do then?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’ll we do’? Political and social issues aren’t our concern. Jin-i unnie will handle that. We just need to focus on waking oppa. Maybe sing him a lullaby or something for emotional support.”

Seohwa recognized the voices—a man and a woman.

Cho Wookwon and Seong Anis.

The first time he’d met them in this timeline, they had been 16 and 17, just kids.

The last time he’d seen them, they were 19 and 20, still young.

Now, they were 22 and 23, grown adults.

The other three were medical staff—faces Seohwa also recognized.

Cho Wookwon pulled a chair to sit beside the bed.

“This is such a strange sight, seeing the deputy guild master like this.”

“Hey, Cho Wookwon. Put your phone away.”

“Why? I won’t upload it anywhere. I’ll just keep it for myself. I swear.”

“Don’t you care about the fallout after oppa wakes up?”

“Tsk.”

Cho Wookwon clicked his tongue softly and put his phone away.

He spoke as if it were only a matter of time before Kang Yigeon woke from his coma.

“By the way, doctor, there’s still only one IV line?”

“Ah, yes. Since he’s EX-grade, it’s difficult to insert needles. If you wouldn’t mind, we’d appreciate your help before you leave.”

“Of course. It’s no trouble at all. You can leave it to us and take a break.”

* * *